Chapter 6: The Enemy Inside the Family
The signature on the document was impossible.
My hands shook as I read it again.
*Alexander Vale.*
My father’s name.
But that was not what terrified me.
It was the date.
Three years after his supposed death.
I looked up.
“Someone forged this.””
My father nodded.
“Yes.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Then why am I involved?””
Alexander looked at him.
“Because you were chosen.””
Daniel frowned.
“Chosen for what?””
“To get close to Eleanor.””
The room went silent.
I felt like the ground beneath me had shifted.
“No.””
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“That’s not true.””
I wanted to believe him.
A part of me still remembered the man I married.
The man who held my hand when my mother died.
The man who promised me forever.
But forever meant nothing when someone could destroy you overnight.
Alexander placed another document on the table.
“This is a financial transfer.””
Daniel looked at it.
Then his face changed.
“What is this?””
“Payment.””
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“I never received this.””
“Not directly.””
My father pointed to the account number.
“Through a third party.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Who controlled the account?””
He didn’t answer.
Because he already knew.
Victoria did.
Her silence exposed her before her words did.
“No,” Daniel whispered.
Victoria looked away.
“Daniel…”
“You knew?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to fix things.””
“Fix what?””
“My life.””
Daniel laughed.
A broken sound.
“You destroyed mine.””
Victoria stepped forward.
“You think Eleanor is innocent? You think she didn’t hide everything from you?””
I looked at her.
“I hid my identity.””
Victoria’s voice rose.
“You hid the truth.””
“Yes.””
I nodded.
“But I never pretended to love someone while planning to destroy them.””
Victoria flinched.
The room became quiet.
My father looked exhausted.
“There is still more.””
I turned toward him.
“How can there be more?””
He looked at the ceiling for a moment.
Then back at me.
“Because the person behind this is not Victoria.””
Everyone froze.
Victoria looked confused.
“What?””
Alexander walked toward the fireplace.
“Victoria was angry. She was manipulated.””
I stared at her.
“You were used?””
She looked down.
For the first time, she seemed less like an enemy and more like someone who had lost control of her own choices.
“Who?”” Daniel asked.
My father answered:
“Someone who wanted Vale Holdings without having to inherit it.””
Thomas suddenly spoke.
“I know who.””
Everyone turned.
The old attorney looked at the documents carefully.
“This pattern.””
He touched the forged signature.
“I have seen it before.””
“Where?”” I asked.
Thomas looked at me.
“During the last year of your father’s life.””
My heart stopped.
“What do you mean?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Alexander wasn’t hiding from enemies outside the family.””
He looked toward my father.
“He was hiding from someone inside it.””
My father’s face darkened.
“Thomas.””
“No more secrets.””
The old attorney turned to me.
“Eleanor, your father had one more child.””
The room went completely still.
I looked at Victoria.
Then at my father.
“What?””
Victoria stepped back.
“That’s impossible.””
My father closed his eyes.
“I never wanted you to know this way.””
I could barely speak.
“Who?””
Nobody answered.
Then the mansion lights suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
A second later, every phone in the room received a notification.
Mine.
Daniel’s.
Victoria’s.
Thomas’s.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
*You spent years searching for the truth. Now you finally know enough to be dangerous.*
Then another message appeared.
*Hello, Eleanor. I’m the sibling your father erased.*
I stared at the screen.
My heart pounding.
A final line appeared.
*And I’m the person who helped Daniel throw you out of your own home.*
I looked up slowly.
May you like
Because the enemy had never been outside the family.
It had been waiting inside all along.
